Falcons quartet leads all-league way

Soccer: Carcich, Busta, Rhoads and Boller named to Pacific League's first team.

April 10, 2012|By Grant Gordon

A season ago, the Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer team won its third consecutive Pacific League championship outright and Falcons defender Mallory Carcich was the league's co-player of the year.

This past season, the Falcons rallied to share their fourth consecutive title with rival Arcadia, but were shut out individually as it relates to post league accolades.

Still, Crescenta Valley was well-represented on the all-league first team, as senior captains Carcich and Dani Busta along with junior standouts Whitley Boller and Sierra Rhoads notching honors.

Advertisement

Synonymous in large part with the quartet was the ability to play physical and versatile soccer.

Arcadia standout Hayley Greep was voted Pacific League Player of the Year after notching 15 goals and 16 assists, with 13 goals and 12 assists coming in league.

"I think she's incredible," said Falcons Coach Jorden Schulz of the talented senior, who led the Apaches to a 14-6-3 season and an 11-1-2 league record that was identical to that of the Falcons, who went 13-5-2 on the season.

Carcich and Busta were both four-year varsity standouts and longtime anchors in a back line that was the Falcons' strength during their current league-title reign.

"She shows up to everything, she works hard at everything, she stays late, she's running stairs after practice when everybody else is at home," Schulz said of Carcich, who also tied for the team-high with six goals. "She's fast, she's big, she's strong, she knows what to do."

Carcich possessed one of the league's strongest legs and also led a defense that was regarded as the best in league, allowing just four goals in 14 league games.

"Whenever we needed something to happen, she was basically around it," Schulz said.

Both Carcich and Busta also battled through injuries, the former dealing with a hip ailment, while the latter was plagued by a back problem. Still, Busta showcased her standout ability as a fleet-footed and clutch defender who was also a catalyst for the offense.

"That kid, she's just good," Schulz said.

Rhoads scored arguably the team's biggest goal when she converted in the second half of the team's 1-0 win over Arcadia that forced a shared title. But she went back and forth from playing defender and forward, showing equal value at the positions, with six goals scored and playing a crucial role on a defense that had 10 league shutouts.